Cumbrian Coast Loco Hauled Stock

[themiller]

Northern are currently in the process of recruiting a team of assistant fare collectors to work on the Cumbrian Coast. Eventually, each loco hauled set will be manned by a Guard and an AFC.

The platforms at Parton, Maryport and Silverdale have already been extended to 100M length and most others will follow during the course of the year.

Is there a timetable or even just something indicative of the order of these works?

 

[MrCub]

Lovely run on this today. 1437 ex Barrow, arrived just over 15 late at Carlisle. I thoroughly enjoyed both the stock used but also the wonderful coastline. It was VERY COLD on board but I didn't care a jot!

 

[bb21]

From a rail enthusiast viewpoint yes its great they are running the 37's but from a modern efficient railway viewpoint, the fact that these trains are running some 24 years after regional loco hauled trains like these were meant to be eliminated is frankly a disgrace.

They are running to help boost capacity elsewhere in the network and are far from being uncomfortable compared to the units that were on the coast previously, yet they are "a disgrace"?

Care to elaborate?

And what is "a modern efficient railway viewpoint" since you mentioned it?

 

[Whistler40145]

I don't think the seats in the DRS Mark 2s would be uncomfortable versus sitting on a rather hard seat on a Nodding Donkey bouncing up and down!

 

[CC 72100]

They are running to help boost capacity elsewhere in the network and are far from being uncomfortable compared to the units that were on the coast previously, yet they are "a disgrace"?

Care to elaborate?

And what is "a modern efficient railway viewpoint" since you mentioned it?

From what I've seen of posts on other threads, 47802 believes that all loco-hauled trains are bad and should be got rid of, even if, as in this case, they are to provide short-term capacity gains.

Recently refurbished mark 2 vs a 156? I doubt there's much in it!

 

[PHILIPE]

From what I've seen of posts on other threads, 47802 believes that all loco-hauled trains are bad and should be got rid of, even if, as in this case, they are to provide short-term capacity gains.

Recently refurbished mark 2 vs a 156? I doubt there's much in it!

The Forums has had many posts all over the place suggesting use of LHCS to
alleviate overcrowding. Seems like 47802 v everybody else !!!

 

[CC 72100]

I'm certainly not advocating the return of LHCS on everything, but with the shortage of rolling stock, it would seem daft to overlook it and write it off as "yesterday's railway".

Plus, the coaches are recently refurbished, it's not like you're going back to early Mark 2s with no air con etc!

 

[MrCub]

The Forums has had many posts all over the place suggesting use of LHCS to
alleviate overcrowding. Seems like 47802 v everybody else !!!

I'm all for this as a solution. About time. I'm currently on a mini rail tour doing as many loco hauled services as I can and they never fail to impress in terms of comfort and space, even on well used services

 

[Blindtraveler]

Anybody on here got any tips that would help a ticket office in Edinburgh issue a Cumbria Round Robbin? Doing one tomorrow and would rather not have to bail at Carlisle to get one and instead carry streight down the WCML.

 

[Lemmy99uk]

Is there a timetable or even just something indicative of the order of these works?

I understand that St Bees will be next for an upgrade, but beyond that I'm not sure.

Some of the platforms may require additional lighting columns installed which takes a bit more time, and as the work was never planned or costed for this Control Period, I imagine Network Rail are having to slot the work in between other projects.

 

[CosherB]

409 was the recipient of perhaps the most comprehensive loco overhaul ever when it was done for DRS. The "ETH Upgrade" as you call it has nothing to do with anything.

The 37s are in generally top nick and suffer as many faults as the incumbent 142 and 156 nonsense. Do you have an axe to grind or something?

I don't doubt that DRS look after their fleet of 37's, and have no 'axe to grind' at all with their use with the Mk2's. Indeed, that's why I did mention the BR work done in the early 80's regarding the refurbishment, rewiring, English Electric generator replacement with a Brush alternator and installation of ETS. The fact remains that this is a temporary solution due to a long term lack of investment. The enthusiast community on here are glad to see the re-use of existing LHCS, but I'm sure that the general rail traveller can see this arrangement for what it is.

 

[Iskra]

Anybody on here got any tips that would help a ticket office in Edinburgh issue a Cumbria Round Robbin? Doing one tomorrow and would rather not have to bail at Carlisle to get one and instead carry streight down the WCML.

It should be simple as long as you say it correctly. Leeds have no issues and its a similarly large/busy station and not much in it in terms of distance.

 

[LeylandLen]

It should be simple as long as you say it correctly. Leeds have no issues and its a similarly large/busy station and not much in it in terms of distance.

Given that Edinburgh Waverley deals with many languages and many different requests, asking for a specfic Cumbrian ticket should be a doddle .

 

[kevsmiththai]

First weeks test trains with 37s and 57s

https://youtu.be/qnwsR5fXDKA

Second weeks test trains

https://youtu.be/7GP4tyxzdbw

First week of scheduled passenger working concentrating mainly on the first Saturday.

https://youtu.be/_vFxWqLX5jY

seen at Green Road with the fells as a backdrop

cheers

 

[ashley37]

Does anyone know what has gone wrong with train at Lancaster this morning ?

 

[wensley]

Does anyone know what has gone wrong with train at Lancaster this morning ?

Looks like reactionary delay in a chain starting with VT 9S44 which is coded very oddly in TRUST ... looks like the LHCS is running fine!

 

[ashley37]

Strange then and it has missed the connection in Barrow by looks of it

 

[Chrism20]

Is The Queen not at Lancaster today?

If she arrived by train this could explain the delay.

 

[LeylandLen]

Yes Royal Train was due in at 1020 so all other trains were held back until HRH was in her secure Rolls .Hence delay to the Barrow LHCS about 30 mins.

 

[wensley]

Yes Royal Train was due in at 1020 so all other trains were held back until HRH was in her secure Rolls .Hence delay to the Barrow LHCS about 30 mins.

That explains the 'SPECIAL TRAIN' incident text in TRUST and the unusual coding then!

 

[Class 170101]

Send the Queen a bill for the delays then

 

[47802]

They are running to help boost capacity elsewhere in the network and are far from being uncomfortable compared to the units that were on the coast previously, yet they are "a disgrace"?

Care to elaborate?

And what is "a modern efficient railway viewpoint" since you mentioned it?

We have seen some limited usage of Loco Hauled to provide extra capacity, but the increased cost is likely part of the reason for not more extensive usage, along with in this case use of Locomotives which belong on a preserved line. At least other recent loco haulage has mainly employed relatively modern locomotives. How many extra staff are being required to make this train run on time despite the timetable already being eased out, yes ok that might improve a bit when the driving trailers arrive, although at least you got a spare Loco handy at the moment when the thing breaks down

The modern efficient railway for northern is as per ITT with a fleet of new trains either DMU/Bi-mode, more electrification and a highly refurbished sprinter fleet but not rolling out prehistoric trains even if they are a fairly short term solution.

 

[al.currie93]

The modern efficient railway for northern is as per ITT with a fleet of new trains either DMU/Bi-mode, more electrification and a highly refurbished sprinter fleet but not rolling out prehistoric trains even if they are a fairly short term solution.

What would the capital cost of this be? And who would pay for it? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see new trains rolled out everywhere, but right now this country does not have enough money or resources for all of this, so I think we have to accept that we're going to have to make do with older and simpler stock. While I question their use on this line in particular, I think this is a very good way of getting more capacity and comfort onto the railway in a way that utilises existing assets, and their performance is improving according to other posts on here.

 

[CC 72100]

The modern efficient railway for northern is as per ITT with a fleet of new trains either DMU/Bi-mode, more electrification and a highly refurbished sprinter fleet but not rolling out prehistoric trains even if they are a fairly short term solution.

Alright then, no prehistoric trains, how about cancelled ones due to stock shortages instead? :roll: God forbid somebody try and relieve overcrowding, the cheek of it!

There's enough moaning about the 319s as it is!

You strike me as really wanting the whole 37s on the Cumbrian Coast to be a failure, just like others seemed to when Serco first took over the sleeper.

 

[yorksrob]

The modern efficient railway for northern is as per ITT with a fleet of new trains either DMU/Bi-mode, more electrification and a highly refurbished sprinter fleet but not rolling out prehistoric trains even if they are a fairly short term solution.

All well and lovely, but until someone builds these new trains, we need something to keep things ticking over now.

This is an excellent example of the railway using its initiative and getting something done now, using what is available. This is to be encouraged.

 

[47802]

Alright then, no prehistoric trains, how about cancelled ones due to stock shortages instead? :roll: God forbid somebody try and relieve overcrowding, the cheek of it!

There's enough moaning about the 319s as it is!

You strike me as really wanting the whole 37s on the Cumbrian Coast to be a failure, just like others seemed to when Serco first took over the sleeper.

From a personal viewpoint I think its great I will no doubt be out getting a photo this afternoon, but from a railway viewpoint apart from being ancient expensive to run rolling stock, its hardly well suited to the stopper service on a route requiring window bars on the doors, which I imagine makes it more difficult and slow to open from the inside, although you might argue you should have bars on the doors anyway for the more idiot enthusiast element which you seem to particularly get with 37's.

Also given this a mitigation for northern loosing 156's to TPX, had their been nothing in the agreement on the Northern Franchise extension about keeping all trains made spare by electrification then this clearly wouldn't have happened.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All well and lovely, but until someone builds these new trains, we need something to keep things ticking over now.

This is an excellent example of the railway using its initiative and getting something done now, using what is available. This is to be encouraged.

No it isn't more like the Dft being pushed into it through lack of alternatives after Chiltern nicked the TPX 170's. Of course if DRS were keen on this as a long term solution perhaps they should supply some 68's and a DBSO that can work with them.

 

[yorksrob]

The railway has always had to live within the means allowed to it by the DfT I'm afraid. One of those things. This solution is still far better than cancellations or unsuitable short distance rolling stock.

 

[badger1badger]

Surely it is good to get loco hauled service on this route and others.

The operators can't win - people complain when there are not enough seats and complain seemingly when there are too many.


Just saying ......

 

[berneyarms]

Unless the locomotives prove unreliable, I really don't see any issue here.

As long as they can deliver the schedule, and keep going this argument about being "too old" is nonsense.

 

[ashley37]

Who cares 37's on this route are a great idea it bring extra revenue in as well great little trip along the coast as well